Furniture piece

ABSTRACT

A seating furniture piece with a seat surface and a leg-rest able to pivot outwards about a pivot axis, wherein the chair can be pivoted between a sitting and a lying position, for which purpose the seat surface can be shifted to the rear relative to a fixed frame, and the leg-rest is coupled to the seat surface in such a manner that it is pivoted when the seat surface is shifted to the rear. The leg-rest comprises a gear and teeth are arranged on the front frame of the seat surface, the teeth meshing with the gear to pivot the leg-rest about the pivot axis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims the priority benefits of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/065107, filed on Aug. 2, 2012, and also of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 052 479.7 filed on Aug. 8, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an item of seating furniture, in particular an armchair or sofa, having a seat surface and a leg rest which can pivot out about a pivot axis, wherein the armchair can pivot between a sitting and a lying position, for which purpose the seat surface can be displaced backwards with respect to a fixed frame and the leg rest is coupled to the seat surface in such a way that it is pivoted when the seat surface is being displaced backwards.

Items of seating furniture such as this are known and are also designated as reclining furniture. They permit an adjustment of the position between a “normal” upright sitting position and a lying position which is tilted further back, for example an approximately horizontal position.

In the lying position, an additional leg rest or foot support can be pivoted out forwards/upwards. A problem in this arrangement is the distance between the front edge of the seat surface and the floor, which limits the size of the leg rest. Extractable leg rests have been use to solve this problem, these leg rests being actuated by scissor-type lever systems, Bowden cables etc.

In the case of such an armchair known from DE 296 00 282 U1 it is necessary to effect the adjustment by displacing the seat surface by pressing down on the armrests since a parallel connecting rod system is provided which, upon displacement of the seat surface, shifts the body weight or the centre of gravity backwards together with the seat surface. The leg rest is connected to the parallel connecting rod system in such a way that it is pivoted in or out during the pivoting motion. The leg rest is also formed in two parts, wherein the two parts are displaced with respect to each other during the pivoting-out movement in order thus to create a longer contact surface in the pivoted-in condition in spite of the smaller construction size. The parallel connecting rod system requires a relatively high construction height and a knee lever mechanism is required in order to change the inclination of the seat surface during displacement. A feed-in cable is provided in order to draw in the extended part of the leg rest during the pivoting-in movement.

DE 20 2006 006 678 U1 discloses an item of seating furniture with a lower limb support which can pivot out and a support extension which can pivot out, wherein the lower limb support can be shifted by means of an articulated articulation chain, in particular scissor-type articulation chains articulated in pairs in the proximity of the side ends of the lower limb support, from a basic position, in which it forms a front cover disposed below the front end region of the item of seating furniture, into a comfort position, in which it forms an elongation of the seat part preferably spaced apart from the seat part, wherein the support elongation is coupled via articulation levers to the articulation chains of the lower limb support so that it pivots outwards during adjustment of the item of seating furniture.

DE 198 30 418 A1 discloses an armchair in which the seat element is disposed in such a way that it can be displaced backwards with respect to the subframe and is coupled to the backrest by connection means which tilt the backrest backwards when the seat part is being displaced backwards, wherein the backrest is connected to the seat element and the subframe by adjustment means which can effect changes in the tilt angle of the backrest independently of the position of the seat surface. Furthermore, the foot support is coupled to the subframe and seat surface in such a way that it is swung forwards/upwards upon backwards displacement of the seat surface. For this purpose, the foot support is coupled to the subframe and to the seat surface by a scissor-type system disposed internally behind or below the foot support. In a manner similar to the armchair known from DE 296 00 282 U1 a Bowden cable is provided which is used to displace the plate elements of a double plate arrangement with respect to one another.

DE 20 2005 000 136 U1 discloses an armchair, the seat surface of which consists of a tubular frame, wherein the lateral tubes are each mounted between front and rear double roller arrangements so that the seat surface can be displaced horizontally.

DE 44 30 303 A1 discloses an item of seating furniture with leg supports which can fold out, in which item of furniture the seat surface is pivoted upwards when the leg support is being pivoted outwards in order to increase the clear height below the seat part so that the leg support can be pivoted out in spite being of a length greater than the clear height. For this purpose, the seat part is articulated on a seat joint of the frame close to the backrest and the leg support is articulated with one of its ends at a knee joint directly on the seat part, and this seat part and leg support are coupled to one another such that the seat part can be raised automatically in intermediate positions during the fold-in and fold-out movements by pivoting about the seat joint on the side of its knee joint opposite the standing surface.

DE 37 18 645 A1 also discloses an item of seating furniture with a leg support which can pivot out, in which the leg support can pivot between a folded-out end position essentially flush with the seat part and an end position folded in downwards at least partially below the seat part. The leg support consists of an upper limb part and a lower limb or foot part articulated thereon. These are connected by mutually coupled drive and transmission means. In an intermediate position during the fold-out movement, the upper limb part and the foot part form an acute angle. The drive and transmission means have a linkage which includes an upper limb link, a foot coupler and intermediate members. The upper limb link is connected to the upper limb part and articulated on a seat joint fixed to the frame. The foot coupler is connected to the foot part and articulated on a knee joint of the upper limb link. The intermediate members are connected to one another at a common joint. One intermediate member is articulated on a guide joint of the upper limb link and the other intermediate member is articulated on a stretch joint of the foot coupler close to the knee joint. The foot coupler has a lever which protrudes beyond the stretch joint on the side opposite the knee joint and forms the free foot part end. The common joint is located in a stable situation in both end positions under the effect of a holding member.

WO 2004/034849 A1 discloses a mechanism for an armchair, which permits the pivoting and simultaneous extension of the leg rest by backwards displacement of the seat surface which is positioned approximately vertically downwards in the pivoted-in condition. For this purpose, the mechanism has an essentially fixed linearly extendable element which is connected to the frame and is pivotably articulated with the leg rest, and a pivotable linearly extendable element which is fixedly connected to the leg rest and articulated in a pivotable manner with the essentially fixed linearly extendable element. The extendable elements are thus formed as telescoping profile rails. A part of the essentially fixed profile rail is correspondingly connected to the frame and the other part is pivotably connected to the leg rest. A part of the pivotable profile rail is accordingly pivotably connected to the frame and the other part, which is firmly connected to the leg rest, is pivotably connected to the part of the essentially fixed profile rail which is pivotably connected to the leg rest. During displacement of the seat surface via a parallelogram-like lever system, the orientation of the essentially fixed profile rails is also changed so that an armchair construction is achieved which, in spite of the simple stable construction, permits smooth, pleasant and gentle pivoting of the leg rest (cf. for example page 7).

DE 10 2006 038 736 A1 also discloses an armchair with a seat surface and a leg rest which can pivot out, wherein the seat surface can be displaced backwards with respect to a fixed frame and is articulated in the front region by positioning levers and the leg rest is coupled to the seat surface in such a way that it is pivoted when the seat surface is being displaced backwards, wherein the leg rest is connected to the positioning lever by means of a first slide bearing and is articulated to the fixed frame by means of a second slide bearing, wherein the first slide bearing is pivotably connected to the second slide bearing, and that the second slide bearing is designed such that its orientation changes during pivoting. The leg rest thus has an upper limb part and a lower limb part which are pivotably connected to one another such that, during backwards displacement of the seat surface, the lower limb part pivots out of a position approximately in parallel with the seat surface and below the seat surface into an approximately horizontal position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create an item of seating furniture with a seat surface and a leg rest which can pivot out, which is particularly simple in construction and can adjust the leg rest without complex mechanics.

The item of seating furniture in accordance with an embodiment of the invention has a seat surface and a leg rest which can pivot outwards about a pivot axis, wherein the armchair can pivot between a sitting and a lying position, for which purpose the seat surface can be displaced backwards with respect to a fixed frame and the leg rest is coupled to the seat surface in such a way that it is pivoted without linear movement when the seat surface is being displaced backwards. The leg rest has a single toothed wheel and toothing is disposed on the front frame of the seat surface, wherein the toothing meshes with the toothed wheel to pivot the leg rest about the pivot axis, that the toothing is attached in a non-rotatable manner to the front frame of the seat surface and the toothing is formed as a segment of a circle.

By reason of the fact that the leg rest has a toothed wheel and toothing is disposed on the front frame of the seat surface, wherein the toothing meshes with the toothed wheel to pivot the leg rest about the pivot axis, it is possible to render the leg rest pivotable by means of a simple mechanical solution.

In other words, the item of seating furniture has a gear transmission between the frame and the seat surface, this gear transmission transmitting the movement derived from the seat surface adjustment to the pivot axis of the leg rest by means of toothing and a toothed wheel meshing with the toothing.

It will be understood that this includes both the use of an individual gear transmission and also the use of two or more gear transmissions. When using a single gear transmission this is preferably disposed centrally and accordingly reinforces the rest of the item of furniture. When two gear transmissions are used, these mechanisms are preferably disposed laterally on the left and right respectively.

In so doing it is of great advantage that the respective end points of the pivoted-in and pivoted-out positions can be predetermined by simple stops. The degree of safety in the pivoted-in position and the height in the pivoted-out position can therefore be preset.

The toothing and also the toothed wheel can be produced as stamped parts.

The toothing is beneficially attached in a non-rotatable manner to the front frame of the seat surface, i.e. it is attached in a non-rotatable manner, for example, to a downwardly positioned tab. Therefore the movement of the seat surface is passed onto the toothed wheel. The toothing is preferably disposed such that, upon backwards displacement of the seat surface, it drives the toothed wheel of the leg rest.

In a preferred embodiment the toothing is formed as a segment of a circle. This is helpful in maintaining the contact between the toothing and the toothed wheel even when the height of the front frame of the seat surface is changed via positioning levers upon backwards displacement.

In a preferred embodiment the toothed wheel is connected to the pivot axis of the leg rest in a non-rotatable manner, in particular if it is disposed in a non-rotatable manner on the pivot axis itself. The toothed wheel can therefore be driven directly by the toothing and at the same time also directly drive the leg rest. For this purpose it is useful if the toothed wheel or the pivot axis is fixedly connected to the main lever of the leg rest.

It is preferable if the pivot axis is disposed on the fixed frame. It can be disposed, for example, on the lower longitudinal connecting rods in the front region.

In addition to the manual drive by weight displacement, a pneumatic, (electro)motive or hydraulic drive can be provided to adjust the leg rest and/or the seat surface. Electric gear motors from the area of automobile seat adjustment can preferably be used for this purpose.

In order to introduce the drive force into the “transmission”, provision is made for the drive to be operatively connected to the first toothed wheel via a second, particularly reducing, toothed wheel. In particular, this second driving toothed wheel is then disposed approximately on the side of the toothed wheel opposite the toothing so that the drive can be mounted as desired.

Direct driving of the pivot axis is likewise possible.

If the toothing and the toothed wheel are fixed spaced apart from one another by means of a clasp, it is possible to construct the transmission in a stable and rigid manner despite its extremely simple structure. In addition, the clasp can be used in the manner of a setting lever which incorporates the front seat surface frame of the known type into the movement action of a quasi parallelogram or a trapezoidal, four-link kinematic chain. It is therefore possible to dispense with additional components.

The item of seating furniture usefully comprises stops for setting the respective end positions (sitting or lying position). These can either be integrated as stops in the frame either in the mechanical manual version or alternatively formed as end position switches in the drive itself in the driven version.

The invention also permits the leg rest to be positioned in any position of movement between the sitting or lying position and also to be loaded in this selected position.

It will be understood that a backrest can be provided which can pivot independently of the seat surface and opposite the seat surface. It is also possible to provide a backrest with movement coupled to the seat surface.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of an exemplified embodiment given with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of an armchair in accordance with the invention, wherein the leg rest is in the pivoted-in position;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the armchair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the armchair of FIG. 1, wherein the leg rest is in the pivoted-out position;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the armchair of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a second embodiment of an armchair in accordance with the invention, wherein the leg rest is in the pivoted-in position;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the armchair of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the armchair of FIG. 5, wherein the leg rest is in the pivoted-out position;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the armchair of FIG. 7 and

FIG. 9 shows a further perspective view of the armchair of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures illustrate an armchair designated as a whole by 1 or rather the mechanism forming the basis thereof, wherein for the sake of clarity a backrest, turning foot, armrests etc which may be present have been left out. It will be understood that the backrest can be coupled with appropriate firmness to the movement of the leg rest yet to be described, or can be formed to be adjustable in a fully independent manner.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a manual version with adjustment of the armchair position by weight displacement and FIGS. 5 to 9 show a motor-driven version.

The armchair 1 can be adjusted between a sitting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a lying position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The armchair 1 has a seat surface 2, a fixed frame 3 and leg rest 4 which can be extended and retracted and can be pivoted out and in. In the sitting position the leg rest 4 is pivoted in and in the lying position it is pivoted out.

For the sake of better clarity only the two main levers 15 of the leg rest 4 are shown. It will be understood that further elements are provided, in particular a support bridging the two levers.

The seat surface 2 consists essentially of a tubular frame 5 into which springs, not shown, for forming the actual support are suspended.

The tubular frame 5 is connected to two parallel flanks 6 of the frame 3 to form a system, which permits adjustment, in the manner of a quasi parallelogram or a trapezoidal four-link kinematic chain which is known in principle from the applicant's DE 20 2005 006 216 U1.

During adjustment between the sitting and lying position, the seat surface 2 is in the one case pushed backwards with respect to the frame 3 and in the other case raised at the front and lowered at the back.

For this purpose, the tubular frame 5 of the seat surface 2 is connected to the respective flank 6 in the rear region via a welded-on tab 7, a lever 8 pivotably connected thereto and a further pivotable lever 9.

In the front region, the tubular frame 5 of the seat surface 2 is adjustably connected to the respective flank 6 via a respective gear transmission 10.

The transmission 10 essentially includes a toothed wheel 11 which is allocated to the leg rest 4, and toothing 12 which is allocated to the front tubular frame 5, wherein the toothing 12 meshes with the toothed wheel 11 to pivot the leg rest 4 about the pivot axis 13.

For this purpose the toothing 12 is non-rotatably attached to the tubular frame 5 of the seat surface 2 via a tab 14.

The toothing 12 is formed as a segment of a circle and disposed in such a way that, during backwards displacement of the seat surface 2, it drives the toothed wheel 11 of the leg rest 4.

For this purpose the toothed wheel 11 is non-rotatably connected to the pivot axis 13 of the leg rest 4, or non-rotatably disposed on the pivot axis 13 itself. A rotation of the toothed wheel 11 thus effects a rotation of the pivot axis 13 and therefore pivoting of the main lever 15 connected to the pivot axis 13 and thus of the leg rest 4.

The pivot axis 13 is rotatably received on the front ends of the flanks 6 and connects them.

The tabs 14 are connected by means of a rod 16 which passes through the toothing 12 on the respective tab 14.

Between the rod 16 and pivot axis 13, a clasp 17 adjoining the transmissions 10 on the left and rights respectively is disposed and connects the rod 16 and pivot axis 13 in a lever-like and moveable manner. The clasp 17 therefore keeps the rod 16 and the pivot axis 13 firmly apart from one another and thus ensures that the toothed wheels 11 and the toothing 12 remain in contact with one another.

The clasp 17 together with the transmission 10 and the tab 14 therefore also simultaneously serve as setting levers for the tubular frame 5.

In addition, the rod 16 and the pivot axis 13 reinforce the mechanism.

Thus if the user presses backwards and shifts his weight accordingly, the adjustment between the sitting and lying positions takes place, wherein the seat surface 2 is pushed backwards with respect to the frame 3 and raised at the front and lowered at the back. Thus the toothing 12 meshes with the toothed wheel 11 which is thereby rotated (clockwise in FIG. 1) and therefore pivots the connected lever 15 about the pivot axis 13.

The variation 1′ shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 essentially corresponds to the one just described, only the differences will therefore be mentioned and corresponding reference numerals used for the corresponding parts.

In contrast to the example above, the adjustment of the armchair position is effected in this case via an electric gear motor 18.

This is disposed laterally on one of the flanks 6 of the frame 3 and includes a motor part 19 and a transmission part 20 which is operatively connected to the first toothed wheel 11 via a second reducing toothed wheel 21. A corresponding toothed wheel 21 is also provided on the other flank and is connected by a means of a shaft 22 which is driven by the transmission part 20.

For this purpose, the toothed wheels 21 mesh with the toothed wheels 11 of the transmission 10. Therefore actuation of the electric gear motor 18 adjusts the armchair 1′.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 armchair -   2 seat surface -   3 frame -   4 leg rest -   5 tubular frame -   6 flanks -   7 tab -   8 lever -   9 lever -   10 transmission -   11 toothed wheel -   12 toothing -   13 pivot axis -   14 tab -   15 main lever -   16 rod -   17 clasp -   18 electric gear motor -   19 motor part -   20 transmission part -   21 toothed wheel -   22 shaft 

1. Item of seating furniture having a seat surface and a leg rest which can pivot outwards about a pivot axis, wherein the armchair can pivot between a sitting and a lying position, for which purpose the seat surface can be displaced backwards with respect to a fixed frame and the leg rest is coupled to the seat surface in such a way that it is pivoted without linear movement when the seat surface is being displaced backwards, wherein the leg rest has a single toothed wheel and toothing is disposed on the front frame of the seat surface, wherein the toothing meshes with the toothed wheel to pivot the leg rest about the pivot axis, that the toothing is attached in a non-rotatable manner to the front frame of the seat surface and the toothing is formed as a segment of a circle.
 2. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothing is disposed such that, upon backwards displacement of the seat surface, it drives the toothed wheel of the leg rest.
 3. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the toothed wheel is connected to the pivot axis of the leg rest in a non-rotatable manner, on the pivot axis itself.
 4. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot axis is disposed on the fixed frame.
 5. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 4, wherein a motive, a pneumatic or hydraulic drive is provided for adjustment purposes.
 6. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drive is operatively connected to the first toothed wheel by a reducing second toothed wheel.
 7. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 6, wherein the toothing and the toothed wheel are fixed spaced apart from one another by a clasp.
 8. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein a backrest is provided which can pivot independently of the seat surface and with respect to the seat surface.
 9. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothed wheel is connected to the pivot axis of the leg rest in a non-rotatable manner.
 10. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 9, wherein the toothed wheel is connected to the pivot axis of the leg rest in a non-rotatable manner on the pivot axis itself.
 11. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pivot axis is disposed on the fixed frame.
 12. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is disposed on the fixed frame.
 13. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motive, a pneumatic or hydraulic drive is provided for adjustment purposes.
 14. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 13, wherein the drive is operatively connected to the first toothed wheel by a second toothed wheel.
 15. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second toothed wheel comprises a reducing toothed wheel.
 16. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothing and the toothed wheel are fixed spaced apart from one another by a clasp.
 17. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the toothed wheel is connected to the pivot axis of the leg rest in a non-rotatable manner.
 18. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivot axis is disposed on the fixed frame.
 19. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein a motive, a pneumatic or hydraulic drive is provided for adjustment purposes.
 20. Item of seating furniture as claimed in claim 19, wherein the drive is operatively connected to the first toothed wheel by a second toothed wheel. 